Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath

Luke 6:1-11

Key Verse 5

“Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

Introduction

Jesus’ ministry was different from the old traditional Judaism. He called his disciples from the ordinary men or even sinners such as the tax-collector instead of from the elite, religious leaders and his teaching and preaching ministry became more popular among people. He healed many sick people. He ate and drank with sinners. He started the new paradigm and Jesus taught that the new wine put in the new wineskin. The Pharisees and the teachers of the laws who strongly advocated returning to the laws of Moses and sticking to the tradition of Moses were alarmed and felt threatened by his new teaching and his popularity. Today’s passage shows that a conflict over the law of Sabbath between Jesus and the Pharisees continues. Here, we can learn who Jesus is as the Lord of Sabbath and what rest is all about.

1. Read verses 1-2. What are Jesus and his disciples doing on the Sabbath? Why do some of the Pharisees point out about their actions? (2) What do you think this show about them?

1-1. Read verses 1-2.

One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. Some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

1-2. What are Jesus and his disciples doing on the Sabbath?

“One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grain fields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. (1)

The disciples were probably hungry and took some heads of grain as a snack. It was allowed for the needy to eat some grains in the field.

If you enter your neighbor’s grainfield, you may pick kernels with your hands, but you must not put a sickle to their standing grain (Deut 23:25).

1-3. Why do some of the Pharisees point out about their actions? (2)

Some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

The issue was whether the disciples’ action violates the Sabbath law. According to the Sabbath law, it was a day of rest that all labor was prohibited on the Sabbath

but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns (Ex 20:10).

To interpret this phrase, the Pharisees had produced pages and pages of commentary defining "work." These are found in the the Talmud (a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law), and in the Mishnah (the first major written redaction of their oral tradition).

According to these books, picking heads of grain is harvesting on the Sabbath; rubbing the grain is threshing on the Sabbath.

The religious leaders used their knowledge of these laws to gain power over labor class people. To the disciples, it was a serious matter. They were charged with violations of the Sabbath.

1-4. What do you think this show about them?

They were very strict interpreters for the law of Moses and they wanted to find any ground to accuse Jesus and his disciples, so they were spying on Jesus and his disciples very closely.

2. Read verses 3-5. What examples does Jesus give them when he hears their rebuke? (3-4, Lev 24:5 and 9, 1 Sa 21:6) Who is Lord of the Sabbath? (5) What do you think Jesus means when he says “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath?”

2-1. Read verses 3-5.

Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

2-2. What examples does Jesus give them when he hears their rebuke? (3-4, Lev 24:5 - 9, 1 Sa 21:6)

Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”

Jesus interpreted the Law of Sabbath differently from the religious leaders. He told them that new era has come and He put a more value on life than on keeping the law.

He gave them the example of David, who ate the consecrated bread himself and gave some to his companions when he was fugitive from king Saul and it was accepted by the Jews.

“Take the finest flour and bake twelve loaves of bread, using two-tenths of an ephah for each loaf. Arrange them in two stacks, six in each stack, on the table of pure gold before the Lord. By each stack put some pure incense as a memorial portion to represent the bread and to be a food offering presented to the Lord. This bread is to be set out before the Lord regularly, Sabbath after Sabbath, on behalf of the Israelites, as a lasting covenant. It belongs to Aaron and his sons, who are to eat it in the sanctuary area, because it is a most holy part of their perpetual share of the food offerings presented to the Lord.” (Lev 24:5-9)

So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, since there was no bread there except the bread of the Presence that had been removed from before the Lord and replaced by hot bread on the day it was taken away (1 Sam 21:6).

2-3. Who is Lord of the Sabbath? (5)

Jesus, the creator God is the Lord of the Sabbath.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. -John 1:1-3

Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. 2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. - Genesis 2:1-3

8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

• Exodus 20:8-11

29 “This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do any work—whether native-born or a foreigner residing among you— 30 because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins. 31 It is a day of sabbath rest, and you must deny yourselves; it is a lasting ordinance. 32 The priest who is anointed and ordained to succeed his father as high priest is to make atonement. He is to put on the sacred linen garments 33 and make atonement for the Most Holy Place, for the tent of meeting and the altar, and for the priests and all the members of the community. - Leviticus 16:29-33

So, Yom Kippur, also known as Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year for the Jewish people. Its central themes are atonement and repentance.

'The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.'" This teaches us that as Lord of the Sabbath, Jesus is

the central figure of the day. Keeping the Sabbath is not simply following rules, but worshiping and serving Jesus.

Before Jesus died on the cross, the Jews used to have the Sabbath on Jewish Shabbat (Shabbath, Shabbes, Shobos, etc.) is a weekly day of rest, observed from sundown on Friday until the appearance of three stars in the sky on Saturday night; it is also observed by a minority of Christians (as in Messianic Judaism). Thirty-nine activities prohibited on Shabbat are listed in Tractate Shabbat (Talmud). - Wikipedia

We Christians do this on Sundays. Christ rose from the dead early Sunday morning.

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. - John 20:1

Christ also to his disciples on a Sunday. So the early Christians held worship services on Sundays to honor the the Risen Christ, the Lord of the Sabbath.

They also referred to it as "the Lord's day."

“On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet”

• Revelation 1:10

Among the people of the Roman Empire, the first day of each month was called “Emperors Day” in honor of the Roman Emperor. Perhaps Christians proclaimed their allegiance to Jesus by honoring the first day of the week as their own Lord’s Day.

So despite many arguable aspects regarding the name of “Sunday” or “the Lord’s day,” still what matters is the fact that Jesus is the very one being worthy of our worship and service.

2-4. What do you think Jesus means when he says “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath?”

He has made the Sabbath Law and he can change the Sabbath Law and He can interpret the Law correctly. He had an authority and power on the law of Sabbath.

“Son of man” is mentioned in Daniel 7:13,14, in which the Son of Man approaches the Ancient of Days and receives all authority, glory and sovereign power, to rule peoples, nations, and men of every language.

“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Jesus has all authority from Almighty God. Jesus' teachings carry divine authority. Jesus declared his disciples blameless--they were blameless! Thus, Jesus defended them with his Messianic authority.

**What happens when we worship and serve Christ? The word "Sabbath" means "rest." Jesus gives us rest for our souls.

Jesus said in Matthew 11:28, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

We become weary and burdened due to our sins. We cannot find rest by sleeping longer, drinking beer, taking drugs, going on trips, surfing internet(social media), or playing video games, because these things do not solve our sin problem.

However, Jesus has authority to forgive our sins. To do so, Jesus went to the cross and shed his blood for us. When we accept Jesus' blood by faith, it cleanses us from all sin. We are reconciled with God--our source of life and peace.

The Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts and assures us of God's will and purpose. The Holy Spirit fills our souls with joy and gives us absolute meaning of life.

The Holy Spirit provides wisdom and strength so that we can carry out our mission successfully and bear much fruit for the glory of God.

The Holy Spirit assures us of final victory in our life of faith. This gives our souls true rest.

**Furthermore, the Sabbath points to a future rest in Christ's kingdom. Then, all the distressing powers of evil will be destroyed. Jesus will wipe every tear from our eyes.

There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. We will dwell in Jesus' glorious kingdom forever.

**Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. - Mark 2:27

Although Jesus is the central figure of the Sabbath day, but he loved us so much that he made it for us to be forgiven with his sacrifice on the cross and had us enter eternal rest with him. Praise Jesus our Lord!

3. Read verses 6-8. Who was present when Jesus was teaching on the Sabbath? (6) Why are the Pharisees and the teachers of the law closely watching this man? (7) Despite their evil motive, what does Jesus do for the man with the shriveled hand? (8) What do you think we can learn from Jesus’ actions in this situation?

3-1. Read verses 6-8.

On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there.

3-2. Who was present when Jesus was teaching on the Sabbath? (6)

“On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching”

Jesus went into the synagogue and taught the word of God to people. The word of God moved their hearts, and brought them to repentance. They received forgiveness and healing. They then found rest.

Among those in the congregation was a man whose right hand was shriveled. This man must have enjoyed Jesus' message. However, his practical life was full of agony due to his shriveled right hand.

The right hand is the source of a man's strength. But this man had no strength in his right hand. He could not play nor work hard like others.

Because of his deformity, others would despise him and he must have felt ashamed.

3-3. Why are the Pharisees and the teachers of the law closely watching this man? (7)

The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath.

The Pharisees and the teachers of the law did not accept Jesus’ authority as lord of the Sabbath and they felt threatened by Jesus’ new ministry, which was quite different from theirs. They tried to find a reason to accuse Jesus.

3-4. Despite their evil motive, what does Jesus do for the man with the shriveled hand? (8)

But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there.

Jesus could have avoid conflict with them. However in order to help the man, Jesus decided to heal the man. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Get up and stand in front of everyone."

3-5. What do you think we can learn from Jesus’ actions in this situation?

Even though he knew their evil intention, he did not withdraw from doing good and saving a life. He showed a true courage by risking his life for saving one person.

4. Read verses 9-11. What does Jesus ask the religious leaders? (9) What does Jesus ask the man with the shriveled hand to do? (10a) Why do you think it may be difficult for this man to listen to Jesus in front of many people? (10b) What happens when the man listens to Jesus? (10c) How do the religious leaders respond to Jesus healing the man’s hand? (11) Why do you think they respond this way?

4-1. Read verses 9-11.

Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.

4-2. What does Jesus ask the religious leaders? (9)

“I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”

Once again what Jesus has said here reminds us of Mark 2:27.

“Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”

Jesus was doing good to save life, while the religious leaders wanted to destroy life. Jesus exposed their sins and really wanted them to repent.

4-3. What does Jesus ask the man with the shriveled hand to do? (10a)

He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored.

4-4. Why do you think it may be difficult for this man to listen to Jesus in front of many people? (10b)

To the man, it’s a great challenge. As a withdrawn person, he did not want to become the spotlight. It was not easy for him to obeying Jesus’ command, much less stretching out his shriveled hand in front of many people looking.

However, Jesus' words had touched his heart deeply; he was compelled by Jesus' words of spiritual authority. In trusting Jesus’ words, he found strength. So he got up and stood there.

4-5. What happens when the man listens to Jesus? (10c)

When he obeyed Jesus’ command, his hand was completely restored. This shows that God favors Jesus and listens to him because God does not favor the sinners.

4-6. How do the religious leaders respond to Jesus healing the man’s hand? (11)

¹¹ But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.

Instead of celebrating this man’s recovery, they were furious. However, Jesus paid a high cost to give him rest. They gathered among themselves and began to plot what they might do to Jesus. Eventually this led to Jesus' crucifixion. In order to give us true rest, Jesus gave his life for us on the cross.

4-7. Why do you think they respond this way?

Their pride and authority were challenged by Jesus and they did not want to repent.

In conclusion

Jesus continues his life saving ministry in spite of strong opposition and challenge by the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law. He taught that he is lord of the Sabbath and new meaning about Sabbath by healing the man with a shriveled hand. He shed his own blood on the cross to give us eternal rest (Sabbath) and to allow us to live in new Jerusalem for good. Praise Jesus!

One word: Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath